Is it strange to still be nursing my 2-year-old?

It's wonderful that you're still nursing your daughter. She receives the physiological benefits, including milk tailor-made for her needs and protective immunoglobulins and antibodies. She also gets to enjoy the psychological benefits of breastfeeding, including a close relationship with you.

It's not so unusual to be breastfeeding at 2 or 3 years old. Worldwide, the average age of weaning is somewhere around 3 to 4 years. Your child will stop breastfeeding when she 's ready. This is described as "child-led" weaning, and it's the most effective and gentle way to wean. As long as you're both enjoying breastfeeding, then by all means continue what you're doing.

You might want to ask your mother-in-law what she finds strange about a woman nursing her toddler. Perhaps it simply doesn't fit in with her idea of what's appropriate behavior for a child your daughter's age. However, the more we learn about the health benefits of extended breastfeeding for children, as well as for mothers (such as reduced risk of premenopausal breast cancer, ovarian cancer, and osteoporosis), the more we realize that extended breastfeeding is not only normal, but preferred.

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